right angle

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: right-angled on Thesaurus.com

noun

the angle formed by two radii of a circle that are drawn to the extremities of an arc equal to one quarter of the circle; the angle formed by two perpendicular lines that intersect; an angle of 90°.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of right angle

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

OTHER WORDS FROM right angle

right-angled, adjective

Words nearby right angle

right, rightable, rightabout, right about face, right and left, right angle, right-angled triangle, right ascension, right as rain, right away, Right Bank

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use right angle in a sentence

Part of it is that when you live in a world that has carpented environments like right angles, where we live in houses in the States makes us focus on those right angles.
The U.S. Is Just Different — So Let’s Stop Pretending We’re Not (Ep. 469)|Stephen J. Dubner|July 15, 2021|Freakonomics
The monitor arm of some mounts can rotate, swivel, and be aimed at just the right angle.
Best computer monitor stand: One trusty product to support every screen in your home office|Irena Collaku|July 13, 2021|Popular-Science
Tauranac, who was serving as head of the MTA’s map committee, wanted landmarks and fewer conceptual right angles.
Your Map Is Lying to You|abarronian|July 12, 2021|Outside Online
Its magnetic-mounting system can attach to metal objects, but it includes adhesives to attach underneath shelves and other unusual places to get the right angle.
Best dog camera: Find out if Fido is being a good boy while you’re gone|Florie Korani|June 25, 2021|Popular-Science

Scrape back and forth over the crack with a sharp razor blade held at a right angle to the surface.
Cracked marble? There’s a DIY fix.|Jeanne Huber|May 31, 2021|Washington Post
Love insisted the feathers be ruffled just enough, the eyes be at just the right angle.
Big Bird’s Big Gay Love Story: From Birth to the 2012 Presidential Race|Michael Daly|October 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The only one present who was seated like a man, legs crossed at right-angle, was Whoopi Goldberg.
Obama's Televised Turn-Off|Tunku Varadarajan|July 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In 1933, Ben Shahn loaned Walker Evans a right-angle viewfinder, which he took on assignment to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Furtive Photography|Philip Gefter|May 27, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Take a case in Trigonometry—a Complement is what remains after subtracting an angle from one right-angle.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
It was reached by some sixty winding but solid steps, and the little terrace, off at a right angle, was full of color.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Mr. Parsons wrenched away with a will, and soon the great bar was bent almost to a right angle.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The Thirteenth and Sixteenth swing out from the trench, turn a right angle to the main line, and face the north.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
It consists of a block of wood with a sloping cut at the right angle to make two pieces.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for right angle

right angle

noun

the angle between two radii of a circle that cut off on the circumference an arc equal in length to one quarter of the circumference; an angle of 90° or π/2 radians

at right angles perpendicular or perpendicularly

Other words from right angle

Related adjective: orthogonal

Derived forms of right angle

right-angled, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for right angle

right angle

[ rīt ]

An angle having a measure of 90°.

Cultural definitions for right angle

right angle

An angle measuring ninety degrees, formed by the intersection of two perpendicular lines. (Compare acute angle and obtuse angle.)